A survey conducted by polling firm YouGov for the tabloid examined the party's support in 76 key seats that will be created following changes to constituency boundaries due to be brought in by 2015.

In 2010 the Lib Dems received 41% of the vote in those seats, ahead of the Tories on 32% and Labour on 19%.

However the poll suggested the party faces a cataclysmic collapse of support in those areas leaving it in third place on just 24% of the vote.

If the numbers remain the same at the general election, Ed Davey (Kingston & Surbiton) would be the only Lib Dem cabinet minister to survive the meltdown.

David Laws, Norman Lamb, Don Foster, Mark Williams, Bob Russell and Alistair Carmichael would be the only other survivors, according to the YouGov poll.

In an interview with the Independent on Sunday, Clegg acknowledged his party faces an uphill battle to regain the support of voters but said people were now at least prepared to listen.

He said: "I totally accept that it's a legitimate criticism that when you are involved in the day-to-day scrum of government... that what can get lost is the narrative, the hymn sheet... the song that inspires and lifts people's sights."

Clegg also dismissed suggestions he would step down before the general election in order to more effectively battle the Tories.

"Of course, I'll go into the general election as Deputy Prime Minister," he said. "We are here for five years."